And then God Made a Farmer
Thomas Jefferson on Farming and
Thomas Jefferson on Farming and
Why I Want to Marry A Farmer
The following text is full of quotes from the author of our
Declaration of Independence- Thomas Jefferson. As I was reading a book called The
Living Thoughts of Thomas Jefferson, a book written by John Dewey compiling
the written thoughts of Jefferson , I could literally feel my heart
beating along with Jefferson’s and I knew that the vision he had of what
this country should be and what line of work would make a man happiest was exactly
what God wanted and intended for this country and it’s citizens.
“ Cultivators of the earth are the MOST
VALUABLE CITIZENS. They are the most VIGOROUS, most INDEPENDENT,
the most VIRTUOUS, and they are TIED TO THEIR COUNTRY,
and WEDDED TO IT’S LIBERTY, by the most LASTING BONDS. As long, therefore, as they can find
employment in this line, I would not convert them to mariners, artisans,
or anything else.” -T. J.
As I read through Thomas
Jefferson’s letters I began to see a wise pattern in his thinking. #1, of
course, as stated above, was that above any other occupation, people
should be in the business of agriculture. His reasoning was that it makes for
the healthiest bodies, the most peaceful of minds,
the most virtuous of spirits, and the freest of souls.
He is FREEDOM TO CHOOSE A
FREER LIFE.
also understood that not all can be in agriculture, that we need people to
make the plows, and clothing, and other things necessary for living
comfortably, but what we are missing today
I. The Most Valuable Citizens Are
Farmers/ Husbandmen:
“Those who labor the earth are the
chosen people of God, if ever He had a chosen people,
whose breasts He has made His peculiar deposit for the substantial and genuine
virtue.”-T.J.
Those in Agriculture Are:
A. Virtuous
“Corruption of morals in the mass
of cultivators, ( farmers), is a
phenomenon which no age nor nation has furnished an example.” T.J.
1.What
this is saying is that throughout history the majority of people who farmed for
a living were moral, honest people. Why? Because, when you are working close
with the earth, you are working as close to God and Christ as you can get. In history class we were taught that some
American Indians worked the soil, while others did not for some reason. The ones
who cultivated the earth were usually more civilized and peaceful.
2.Understand the nature of husbandry and you
understand the relationship between God and man. Christ says “I am the true
Vine, you are my branches.” I didn’t really get this until I had grown my own
grape vines. Now I see that everything I am comes from Him.
3. No leftover time or energy to get in
trouble
B. Vigorous
“... to the labor of the husbandman
a VAST ADDITION is made by the SPONTANEOUS ENERGIES OF THE EARTH on
which it is employed: for one grain of wheat committed to the earth, she
renders twenty, thirty, or even fifty fold, whereas to the labor of the
manufacturer nothing is added.”- T.J.
1. A farmer takes one kernel of
corn and puts it in the ground. Then, nature starts to compound the farmer’s
effort, and for that one kernel he receives hundreds. Multiply this by the
thousands of seeds a farmer plants and he’s got himself a VAST ADDITION made by
the spontaneous energies of the earth! On the other hand, a man who works in a
factory putting a bolt on a car has NOTHING added by nature’s supernatural
force. His bolt will always be just a bolt; it will not grow but it will
eventually rust and fall off.
2. All the effort that is put into
working the soil is compounded and “increased by the creative energies of
the earth.” The more work put out comes back 20, 30, 50 times more which
encourages more hard work .
C. Independent
“ It is the mark set on
those, who, not looking up to heaven (and) to their own soil and industry, as
does the husbandman, for their subsistence, depend for it on casualties and
caprice (sudden, impulsive change of thinking) of customers. Dependence
begets subservience and venality, ( being open to corruption
or bribery), suffocates the (origin) of virtue, and prepares
tools fit for the design of ambition.” -T.J.
1. I know this sentence is a bit
confusing; I had to read it like twenty times, ( and look up some words) to
understand its meaning, but basically it means that a farmer looks to heaven
and depends on the soil and his own effort for his
livelihood. On the other hand, a person who does not depend on
his own two hands, the earth, and God, can depend on
having casualties in his life and customers that change what they
want on a whim. Because of this, those who have to depend on more
then the earth, heaven, and his own two hands become
servants and not their own masters. Venality is
being open to bribery and corruption and it is the result of being dependent
on circumstances or other people’s whims. This, in turn, smothers
and stifles the very seed of virtue so that goodness cannot
even begin to grow in a person, but it is choked out before it even
begins to take root.
D. Good Citizens
“... generally speaking, the
proportion which the aggregate ( a mass of distinct things gathered into a
total or whole) of the other classes of citizens bears in any State to that of
husbandmen, is the proportion of its unsound to its healthy parts, and it
a good enough barometer whereby to measure its DEGREE OF CORRUPTION.”
-T.J.
1. Okay, so basically this means
that, in general, when you put all occupations together and count the number of
people working in them they should not outnumber the number of people who work
the soil for a living. I am smiling here because I know this sounds ridiculous
and most people today would be like “What? Farmers make up such a small
number of Americans that they could never outnumber everyone else.” Well, yeah,
that’s because most of the farming done today has been taken over by big
corporations and the small time farmer is a thing of the dying past.
But what Jefferson said is TRUE. Look around, the more you push out
the man who works his land for a living, the MORE CORRUPT A SOCIETY
BECOMES! The question is, what do we really want? Do we want a HEALTHY
SOCIETY or an UNHEALTHY SOCIETY. The statement is still
true. Measure the amount of workers in offices and factories against the
ones working outside with the earth and you’ll see our body is SICK and
the DEGREE OF CORRUPTIONS IS OFF THE CHARTS
II. “ While we have land to labor then, let us
never wish to see our citizens occupied at a workbench, or twirling a
distaff.”- T.J.
The land IS THERE for the
laboring! I know; I’ve ridden my bike across middle America and even down the
east coast. There is still land out there! But people are driven to the
cities by high taxation and big corporations taking over the jobs for
the little guy. THIS IS NOT THE FREEDOM OR LIFE OUR FOUNDING FATHERS
WORKED SO HARD FOR!
A. Occupations Outside of
Agriculture Tend to Encourage Immorality
- Jefferson referred to workers in
England as the : “ ... dissolute (overindulgent in sensual matters) and demoralized
handicraftsmen of the old cities of Europe.” T.J
. - He also said: “ I consider the class
of artificers as the panders of vice, and the instruments by which the liberties
of a country are generally overturned.” T.J.
1.. Okay, I realize that most people might stop right here, (probably
because they are not out plowing the field) and say they are not that
immoral. But if you step back a minute I think you’ll see that we live in a
society that makes it EXTREMELY DIFFICULT and sometimes DOWNRIGHT
IMPOSSIBLE to be good and do good. These are liberties that all men
are created with: THE RIGHT TO BE A GOOD, MORAL PERSON
WITHOUT PRESSURE TO BE IMMORAL.
B. Husbandry Discourages Wars With Other
Countries
“ Were I to indulge my own theory,
I should wish them (citizens) to practice neither commerce nor navigation, but
to stand, with respect to Europe, precisely on the footing of China, (as it was
in the 18th century- China was pretty much cut off from the outside
world, able to live comfortably with their own goods made with what their own
land supplied them with) We should thus avoid wars and all our citizens would
be husbandmen.”
1. In theory it would be
great if everyone tended to their own land and we were able to have everything
we needed by working with our own two hands- We wouldn’t have time to fight
other countries! We’d be too busy!
C. Pure Government Needs Quiet, Independent
Citizens
“ The mobs of great cities add just
so much to the support of pure government, as sores do to the strength of
the human body. It is the manners and spirit of a people which preserve a
republic in vigor. A degeneracy in these is a canker which soon eats
at the heart of its laws and constitution.”- T.J.
1. Even in the 18th
century city living has always been one full of murder, theft, and rape of the
human soul. Pure government cannot survive here; it becomes sick and wears down
our political strength and what makes America the Land of the Free. Big cities
are like sores; they add nothing, but take much. They strip the land,
contaminate rivers, and erect structures that pollute the environment around
them. How can anything good come of something that makes nature so unnatural?
The answer is simple, nothing good can come when people are more concerned with
high profit margin then keeping this country clean and healthy- morally and
physically. Good government, a democratic government, cannot survive in the
hands of those whose primary objective is to make money.
D. Agricultural Living Keeps
Free Government Safe From Pollution
“Indeed it seems to me that in
proportion as commercial avarice and corruption advance on us from the north
and east, the principles of free government are to retire to the agricultural
states of the south and west, as their last asylum and bulwark .” - T.J
1. Go to middle America. Stay
awhile with people who grow their own food, (and your food for that matter);
listen to them speak; hear their concerns, and you will hear the distant echo
of liberty and justice for all.
E. Morality Says : Soul
Cleaner, Body Healthier
“ ... we should allow its (morality’s) just weight to the moral
and physical preference of the agricultural over the
manufacturing man.” T.J.
-Physically and Morally,
working on your own land for a living is always going to be better for you and
the country you live in.
1. When you’re out in the field
you’re sweating, you’re building muscles, your mind is focused on the task at
hand. When you sit at a desk, your mind wanders, (now in the age of the
internet, people’s eyes wander to things they shouldn’t be looking at!), not to
mention your body just sits there motionless for hours on end causing high
cholesterol, high blood pressure, and extra notches on that belt!
2. When you’re farming and working
hard, you’re pretty much by yourself or with your family -ie- not many
co-workers around to have affairs with or fantasies about.
III. Nothing
Should Divert Us From Our Wisest Occupation (Agriculture)“...
- Before the
outbreak of war with England, Jefferson was concerned that war would divert our
attention from what would bring this country and its citizens the greatest
happiness they could enjoy- working the soil with their own blood, sweat, and
tears.
“( do not let a
war) divert us from agriculture which is our wisest pursuit, because it
will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals,
and happiness. The wealth acquired by speculation and plunder is
fugacious, (fleeing) in its nature, and fills society with the spirit of gambling.
The moderate and sure income of husbandry begets permanent improvement,
quiet life, and orderly conduct, both public and
private. We have no occasion for more commerce than to take off our
superfluous produce.” T.J.
A. THE RIGHT TO MAKE A LIVING IN AGRICULTURE
IS GUARANTEED TO ME AS A U.S. CITIZEN!!!
1.. Agriculture is our WISEST
PURSUIT as United States citizens
2.. In the end it will contribute
the most to REAL WEALTH &
3. GOOD MORALS &
4. HAPPINESS
-When
Jefferson wrote in the Declaration that “All men are created equal and endowed
by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are
LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS- HE KNEW THAT
MAN WAS HAPPIEST WHEN WORKING THE SOIL AND IT IS MY CONSTITUIONAL RIGHT
TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING WITH MY OWN TWO HANDS AND NOT BE OVERBURDENED OR
OVERTAXED BY THE GOVERNMENT SO THAT I WOULD BE FORCED TO TAKE ANOTHER JOB. It
is up to ME to work hard, it is up to the government to see that I have every
opportunity to pursue this HAPPINESS
B. Wealth
Acquired Through Speculation or Plundering Does Not Last!
1. Jefferson says above that true happiness is
not found by plundering the pockets of others, or through things like the stock
market which is speculation. This only leads to a spirit of gambling which in
turn brings out the worst parts of mankind- Greed, theft, lying, cheating,
immoral actions, even murder. Once you begin to step over that line where you
cease to make a living making things or growing things for the betterment of
your fellow citizen, and instead base your success on the size of your wallet-
you become a self-absorbed greedy person and are a sore or cancer to society.
2. One minute you are up, (I’m
talking about the stock market and other speculative ventures), the next minute
you are down, and all the while you are not producing anything worth anything
to anyone.
C. Moderate and Sure Income
Through Agriculture Fathers:
1. PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT
2. QUIET LIVING
3. ORDERLY CONDUCT IN THE HOME
AND OUTSIDE OF IT
- Now I know that in today’s
society an agriculture income is not sure, people have been forced off of their
farms and into office cubicles, but the adverse affects remain the same. Most
people today are not permanently improving their lives during their “day jobs”;
they are at best saving up money to someday retire. For most people they drive
to a building day in and day out just for pieces of paper. A home business in
agriculture lets people raise their children without sending them to daycare,
making for more reliable and honest citizens. When a man works his own land he
is constantly improving it and making it better. When a person is not engulfed
in office politics and pleasing people who may be less than honest or good,
they become a slave to a company or a man and often have to go against their
own moral fiber just so they can be assured
that food will be on the table. This makes for dishonest
citizens, for once you cross the line into going against your conscience or
better judgment once, it is easier to bend a second time, and so on. The end
result is dishonest and self-seeking person who is not fit to call himself a
true American because he has the moral backbone of a jellyfish who does not
stand up for the weak and innocent but bends into criminals for money or
powerful position.
IV. Resorting to
Manufacturing as a Necessity, Not a Choice
“ Manufacture must therefore be resorted to of
necessity not of choice, to support the surplus of their
people.” T.J.
A. “But If Manufacturing is a
Necessity- let it not be a prison, but independent also.” - T.J.
1. Yes, we need to have things
made, but man should always have the opportunity to run his own life, (under
God), and not be forced to work in a city or manufacturing job, but let those jobs
also have a man at the helm of his future, NOT ANOTHER MAN!
B. Man Needs A “Fall Back” To Work His Own Land
“ As yet, (before the
corruption of American business as it is today, businessmen mostly had their
home and business tied together, didn’t have the long commutes of today, and
ran their own show), our manufacturers are as much at their ease, as independent and
MORAL as our agricultural inhabitants, and they will continue so long as
there are vacant lands for them to resort to; because whenever it shall be
attempted by the other classes to reduce them to the minimum of subsistence,
they will quit their trades and go to laboring the earth.” - T.J.
1. As long as people are
independent, (not under the rule and authority of others) and Moral, with the
ability to obey God and work toward bettering himself and his family,
manufacturing and working in a trade can be fulfilling and great.
2. On the other hand, whenever the
“upper classes” (usually those buying his goods) start to push a man down, not
pay him what he is worth, and take away is dignity and self-respect by not
honoring and appreciating the job he does- Man needs to know that HE DOES NOT
HAVE TO WORK FOR THE PLEASURE OF PRIDEFUL OR ARROGANT PEOPLE- this is not God-
this is not freedom, but servitude. He needs to know that he can always leave
his manufacturing job for the quiet of the country -
V. Equilibrium Between
Agriculture, Manufactures, and Commerce:- Essential to Our Independence.
A. Desire for Commerce and
Trade is not American, but European
“ Our people have a decided taste
for navigation and commerce. They take this from their mother country.” T.J.
1.
Jefferson knew he couldn’t stop Americans from trading and commerce, it was in
their blood from Britain. However, he could encourage fair trade,
honesty and independence in all things.
B. “Eat That Which Is Sufficient For Thee”
1. “Manufactures, sufficient for
our own consumption, of what we raise in raw material, (and no more)” -
T.J.
a. It’s just the gist of this idea
that we should understand. We don’t need to be greedy and money hungry, but
need to live quiet and peaceful lives working with what God puts before us. If
we need to send off to India or somewhere for some sort of tool or cloth for
our business, let’s make sure that we are mostly working with what is in our
own area.
2.
“Commerce sufficient to carry the surplus of produce of agriculture, beyond our
own consumption, to a market for exchanging what we cannot raise, (and no more)
These are the true
limits of manufactures and commerce. To go beyond them is to increase our
dependence on foreign nations, and our liability to war.” T.J.
a. I truly believe that God has
put before man all he needs for living and that getting things native to other
lands is a plus in life, but not a necessity.
b. When we begin to produce
things, let us make sure that we send the just the “surplus” of it away to
faraway places in exchange for the surplus of what others may have native to
their area. We don’t want to end up fighting others for things they may have
that we want or vice versa (oil). We don’t want to have to rely on
or depend upon the whims of other countries who might or might
not take our goods- that is speculation, and not independence.
VI. Education
Is Great - but Must Be Held In Check
During the time of the founding of
our country people were in need of “book learning” and education, but the
educators began enticing the young people away from a perfectly happy and great
life on the farm for the glass dreams of the great amounts money and power that
could be had with a job in the city. Jefferson called for education, but for
people, (especially the young men), to be EDUCATED AGRICULTURISTS!
A. There Is An Evil In The
Enticements of Education
“On the revival of letters,
learning became the universal favorite. And with reason, because there was not
enough of it existing to manage the affairs of a nation to the best advantage,
nor to advance its individuals to the happiness of which they were susceptible,
by improvements of their minds, their morals, their health, and in those
conveniences which contribute to the comfort and embellishment of life. All
efforts of the society, therefore, were directed to the increase of learning,
and the inducements of respect, ease, and profit were held up for
encouragement. Even the charities of the nation forgot that
misery was their object, and spent themselves in founding schools to transfer to science the hardy sons
of the plough. To these incitements
were added the powerful fascinations of
great cities. These circumstances have long since produced an overcharge in the class of competitors for
learned occupations, and great distress among the supernumerary
candidates; and the more, as their habits of life have disqualified them for
re-entering into the laborious class. (They got too big for their britches!) This is an evil that
cannot be suddenly, or perhaps entirely cured” - T.J.
1. Jefferson was ALL FOR EDUCATION!
- he founded the University of Virginia and stated this as one of his life’s
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS! Education begets:
a. Improvements to the mind
b. Greater morality
c. Better health
d. Greater Happiness
WHEN DONE THE RIGHT WAY- TO EDUCATE YOURSELF AS TO
THE VERY BEST MEANS TO OBTAIN A GOOD, MORAL, AND QUIET WAY OF LIVING!!
2. On the OTHER HAND, people began
to view education as the only means to a good end and city living as far superior to farming,
which it really is not.
3. Churches and charities forgot
that their greatest mission was to the poor and started to focus on education
as a means and ends in and of itself, which it is not.
4. With all the opportunities to
receive an education there was a surplus of students all vying for the same
jobs, (which they were promised as sure things)- Even today we have this
problem. Competition is ugly and fierce for the really good high paying jobs
that children are taught will be waiting for them with open arms if they “just
study really hard” and “do good” on their little spelling tests. This leads to
a lot of stress for those who enter the market place on their own while an
unfair advantage is given to those who have relatives that are willing to pull
a few strings.
5. Young men leaving a muscle
building way of living got too used to the fineries of city living, too
comfortable and spoiled. They didn’t want to work hard if they could do far
less arduous work and have a fancier lifestyle. Most young men today are
pampered and prissy and would balk at the work of18th century
agricultural men.
B.
Putting Education and Agriculture Together!
1. First, we NEED TO KNOW that the
art of agriculture, is just that- an art, a science in order for husbandry
given it’s proper place of respect:
-
“It, (agriculture), is a science of the very first order- It
counts among its handmaids the most respectable of sciences, such as Chemistry,
Natural Philosophy, Mechanics, Mathematics, and generally ,
Natural History, Botany.” - T.J.
2. Jefferson suggests reversing the
enticements so that people see working in agriculture as superior to any
other job because IT REALLY IS! People need to eat; above
all else, people need food and water. After these come clothing then
shelter, and after these are all other conveniences. So it stands to reason
that the people doing the greatest good by using the time God has
given them during the day to work the soil so it produces that which brings us
a healthy life should be given the highest place of honor and respect among his
fellow citizens. You could spend all your life in school and learn how
to be a brain surgeon, but without someone farming the land people wouldn’t
live long enough to need a brain operation. Yes, doctors are needed in
society, but just because a man read more books does not entitle him to more
respect then the man who has gotten up at 4:00 a.m. all his life, sweating all
day and breaking his back so the doctor could have meat and vegetables on his
plate at dinner. Without the farmer, we would not have rocket scientists or
great works of writing or art. Life starts with a seed, whether it’s a beast or
a flower or a human being; and someone or something has got to plant them.
- “The same artificial means which
have been used to produce competition in learning, may be equally successful in
restoring agriculture to its primary dignity in the eyes of men! It is
the first in utility and ought to be FIRST IN RESPECT.” - T.J
(This is such a great line!)
3. In places of Higher Learning-
Teach, I mean REALLY TEACH all the aspects of the SCIENCE of
Agriculture!
A. “ In EVERY College and
University, a professorship of agriculture, and the class of its
students might be HONORED FIRST...”
- Jefferson thought it was so
important he set up a professorship in agriculture at his institution.-
B. “...Young men closing their academical
education with this, as the crown of ALL other sciences, fascinated with its
solid charms,
-Encourage husbandry as the CROWN, THE ULTIMATE OF ALL THE SCIENCES!
C. “... and at a time when they are
to choose an occupation, instead of crowding the other classes, would
return to the farms of their fathers, their own, or that of others, and
REPLENISH AND INVIGORATE A CALLING now languishing under CONTEMPT and OPPRESSION.
- Those who choose an agricultural
life should go to college, and ACTUALLY LEARN SOMETHING WHILE THEY ARE THERE
THAT IS TRULY USABLE IN DAY TO DAY LIFE. And after graduating they should
return to or go to farms instead of running over each other vying for the best positions.
D. “... The charitable schools, instead of storing
their pupils with a lore which the present state of society does not call for, converted
into schools of agriculture, might restore them to that
branch qualified to enrich and honor themselves, and to increase the
productions of the nation instead of consuming them.” - T.J.
-Teach a man to fish- Charities and churches
who want to educate people should really teach people how our God above had
planned for us to make a living.
In summary of all the above statements I leave you with
this:
“ ... are we not almost merely agricultural. Should not all
laws be made with a view essentially to the poor husbandmen?” - T.J.
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